Old City Gate of Jerusalem:

The Old Gate was repaired by Jehoiada, the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams, set up the doors, and locks and the bars. Next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.

They repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces. Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.

Next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. Next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah. Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces. Next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. (Nehemiah 3:6-12).

The Old Gate could be located on the northwest side of the city as the wall makes a major turn from north to south. It is also believed by some to be the modern Damascus Gate. The name “Old Gate” implies that it was one of the first gates of ancient Jerusalem. It would have been first built when Jerusalem was experiencing much better times than they were during Nehemiah’s time. (2 Kings 14:13; Jeremiah 31:38).

There are some old gates we need to go through in our day in order to experience better times. The Old Gates relates to the “old paths, where is the good way” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Joanne Holstein is a Becker Bible Studies Teacher and Author of Guided Bible Studies for Hungry Christians. She is a graduate of Psychology/Christian and Bible Counseling with Liberty University. She is well-known as a counselor to Christian faithful who are struggling with tremendous burden in these difficult times. She is a leading authority on historical development of Christian churches and the practices and beliefs of world religions and cults.